3 Essential Smartphone Travel Tips
Nobody – young and old alike – goes anywhere without their smartphone anymore. And, why would you? With your phone in hand, you have instant access to maps, flight details, restaurant reviews, a camera and other essential travel tools. But, there’s more to traveling with your device than simply slipping it in your pocket and […]
Lightning Facts and Fallacies
The next time you see or hear a thunderstorm in Circleville, Ashville or Chillicothe, you might want to take a moment to review what you know about lightning safety. Strikes are most common during the summer thunderstorm season, but they can happen at any time of the year. And, a lot of less-than-accurate ideas about […]
How to Lower Your Auto Insurance Bill
It’s easy to lower your insurance costs — especially if you have a great driving record, or don’t mind having higher deductibles. Who doesn’t want to pay less for car insurance? Billions of dollars are spent on ad campaigns to convince you to “switch and save” — but the truth is, many people can find […]
14 Fascinating Facts about February
February is the shortest month of the year (even in leap years, when it has 29 days instead of 28), but there’s no shortage of interesting facts about it. From weird holidays to astronomical oddities, this month has a bit of everything. So with a nod to what February is perhaps best known for—Valentine’s Day […]
Tornados and Driving Safely
What to Do If You’re Caught in Your Car During a Tornado Tornadoes are the most violent storms anywhere, and about 1,200 touch ground in the United States every year, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). They’re as unpredictable as they are violent, most often occurring in the early spring on the Gulf Coast, […]
Five Ways to Protect Your Personal Electronic Data
Online data breaches are just an unfortunate fact of life now—as the New York Times put it, you might as well assume that your personal information has been taken, because cyberattacks happen all the time. Many people don’t take even simple steps that would make it harder for thieves to gain access to banking details, […]
Looking at a new piece of jewelry? Make sure to look at your insurance, too
Whether it’s a gift from someone special or a gift to yourself, a new piece of jewelry can bring some sparkle to your life. However, many people who find themselves victimized by burglars—or worse, a fire or some other disaster—also find out too late that they didn’t have enough insurance to replace their jewelry. Here’s […]
Five Common (and Potentially Costly) Homeowners Mistakes
Owning a home is usually a great experience. But it can also be a hassle, especially when unexpected issues pop up—whether you have a minor breakdown or a major catastrophe, it’s almost certainly going to require time and money to fix. In many instances, however, those “unexpected” issues shouldn’t really be a surprise at all, […]
Is your home as efficient as it could be?
Drafty windows. Leaky faucets. Dirty air filters. All are common issues in homes across the country, and they’re not just annoying—they also cost you money in decreased energy efficiency and higher bills. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program estimates that homeowners can save 5% to 30% on annual energy costs by incorporating technologies […]
Med Pay? PIP? Dec pages? Insurance terms, explained
With all kinds of different coverages for all kinds of different needs, insurance can be very confusing. And to make it even more challenging, at times it probably seems like insurance websites and policy documents are written in a completely foreign language. Of course, that’s why we recommend working with an independent agent—someone who is […]